(Hamilton, Sherburne, NY – Oct. 2015) Friends of Rogers (FOR), the non-profit organization operating the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne, is receiving leadership support from the Hamilton Area Gardner’s Club.
The Hamilton Area Gardner’s Club raised $700 during its plant sale this past June and donated all proceeds to Friends of Rogers.
“We are extremely grateful for this tremendous gift,” said Simon Solomon, FOR executive director. “Since 2011, when Friends of Rogers saved Rogers Environmental Education Center from closing, the organization has generated the majority of financial assistance for the center, allowing this vital resource to be preserved – and flourish.”
FOR has existed since the creation of the Rogers Environmental Education Center in the late 1960’s. Initially formed to serve as a volunteer auxiliary corps, FOR has seen a dramatic shift in function, beginning in 2011. The organization’s mission is to provide outstanding educational opportunities that excite, inspire, and motivate people of all ages to enjoy, understand, appreciate, and protect the natural environment.
The goal of the organization is to offer a wide variety of educational and recreational programs for an array of audiences including children, teens, seniors, professionals, and families. FOR seeks to be a vital educational resource and a welcoming, accessible environment to people of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds, race, religion, gender and abilities. Programs are designed to form the core of a community-wide respect for an understanding of the natural environment of Central New York.
“Friends of Rogers is successful thanks to the outpouring of support from community organizations such as the Hamilton Area Gardner’s Club,” said Solomon. “We greatly appreciate the local support in ‘Saving Our Neck of the Woods.’”